Pregnancy after bypass: Week 38 pregnancy diary

This week being pregnant started to really, really not be fun anymore. It’s painful, exhausting and just not fun anymore. It was the first week of the school holidays too so I had my little guy to hang out with, and try to keep him busy and entertained as well. This week the baby is the size of a pumpkin (I think there must be a few varieties they are referencing because surely we’ve already had a pumpkin) and it certainly feels like I have one strapped to my tummy.

The aim of this week was to get through the first week of the school holidays in one piece and keep him busy with stuff that wasn’t too hard for me to do either. He is a very energetic kid and doesn’t like sitting around doing nothing for very long at all. I had a plan to take him to a playground in the morning any day that we didn’t have something else on and it was a great way to keep him busy and he inevitably saw other kids at the playgrounds too.

I really wanted to make the most the last bit of time that I was going to have with my son before the baby arrives and we did some baking, went to playgrounds, went out for a coffee together, went to see a movie and caught up with some friends. It was nice to have the last bit of time just with him before things get turned upside down.

I had a midwife appointment on Tuesday and it was nice and quick. Since my c-section is booked for next week there really wasn’t much to do or talk about so we had a quick chat, she had a feel of the baby and confirmed that the baby’s head is engaged. I could already tell because you can feel when there’s a head pushing down in your pelvis! The baby’s heartbeat was nice and fast and she’s still quite happy in there.

It’s felt this week like my body has started to give up a bit. My hips have been really sore, one day one of them was so bad getting out of the car was difficult and I couldn’t bear my weight just on that leg. My sleeping has been really patchy, it’s so hard to get comfortable and with sore hips having to lie on either side was just not nice. I really can’t wait to be able to lie on my back again! I’ve had a couple of nights this week where I’ve had strong Braxton Hicks contractions during the night that have woken me up. This has not been fun.

I have been getting so tired this week too. One day the little guy and I made a gingerbread house, I had spaced it out a bit by baking it the day before, but after a couple of hours in the kitchen standing up to decorate it I had to go and sit down for an hour or so and was struggling to not fall asleep!

I had my last bit of indulgence this week and went and got my hair professionally coloured. I usually use box dye and do it myself at home. I wanted my hair done and greys covered before the baby arrives but just could not be bothered when I’m super pregnant to do it myself. It was really nice to go and chill out for a couple of hours and have my hair done properly. I was really pleased with the result so next time I will be going back to Hue in Albany next time I want it done.

We had lots of family stuff on as the weekend approached. We had my father in-laws 70th birthday celebration and my parents arrived a couple of days before Christmas to stay with us. Everything is really getting close to baby time. Wednesday this week marked one week left until my planned c-section and while I’m certainly ready to not be pregnant anymore it’s a bit mind-blowing to know in less than a week we will have a newborn baby in the house.

How far along? 38 weeks, so in simple terms very, very pregnant!

How big is the peanut? The size of a pumpkin.

Total weight gain/loss? This week my weight stayed the same.

Maternity clothes? Dresses are life for me at the moment but also from about 4pm in the afternoon pj shorts and a singlet rule!

Sleep? Has been up and down this week. Most nights I’m awake a few times for anywhere up to an hour or so and the couple of nights with Braxton hicks were not enjoyable.

Best moment this week? Spending time with my little guy.

Food cravings? This week has been all about having peanut butter and jam on half of a sandwich thin. It’s the perfect spread to vessel ratio for my tiny tummy.

Labour signs? I’ve had some Braxton hicks this week but nothing that’s carried on and I haven’t wondered at any point if I’ve been going into labour.

Belly button in or out? It pops put when I sit down at times but it still firmly in when I sit down.

What I miss? Coffee, real non-decaf coffee! Not long now though!

What I’m looking forward to? Coffee, not being pregnant anymore, meeting our little girl, and all of the great stuff that comes with having a new small person around.

Bump? Currently looks like I have a basketball stuffed down the front of my shirt.